Aborigines want custody of Tasmanian forest reserves

Andrew Darby

Aborigines are claiming a stake in Tasmania's forest peace talks, with a proposal they be made custodians of big new native forest reserves.

The local Aboriginal leader, Michael Mansell, said yesterday 430,000 hectares would be maintained by Aborigines, instead of the Parks and Wildlife Service, under his proposed handover.

Transfer to the indigenous community has been pitched to the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania and the timber agency Forestry Tasmania, which have responded that any agreement would need backing from the Australian and Tasmanian governments.

A handover would also have to pass through the Tasmanian Parliament, according to the Premier, Lara Giddings.

But the conservative upper house is already threatening to veto the reserves unless green groups stop lobbying native forest product markets in Japan.

The Greens have objected to Forestry Tasmania's involvement in the indigenous plan as jeopardising the future of the overarching peace talks.

Under its agreement with the Commonwealth, the state government has until June 30 to begin the process of formally protecting the reserves.